1 Kings 3:6-14

New American Standard Bible

Solomon’s Prayer

⁶ Then Solomon said, “^(A)You have shown great faithfulness to Your servant David my father, ^(B)according as he walked before You in ^[a]truth, righteousness, and uprightness of heart toward You; and ^(C)You have ^[b]reserved for him this great faithfulness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. ⁷ And now, Lord my God, ^(D)You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet ^(E)I am like a little boy; ^(F)I do not know how to ^[c]go out or come in. ⁸ And ^(G)Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, ^(H)a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. ⁹ So ^(I)give Your servant ^[d]an understanding heart to judge Your people, ^(J)to discern between good and evil. For who is capable of judging this ^[e]great people of Yours?”

God’s Answer

¹⁰ Now ^[f]it was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. ¹¹ And God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing, and have ^(K)not asked for yourself ^[g]a long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the lives of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, ¹² behold, ^(L)I have done according to your words. Behold, ^(M)I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you. ^13 (N)I have also given you what you have not asked, both ^(O)riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days. ¹⁴ And ^(P)if you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will ^(Q)prolong your days.”